Paleo For Dummies: 7 Tips To Keep You On Track

So, it's one week until SB 2014 and it's time to start eating healthier. But who has time to sift through the hundreds of diets out there? There are those involving only clear liquids, those that include only vegetables, and the diets that only include fast food and dessert (those have got to be a joke, right?). But what about the new diet that everyone is trying? The Paleo Diet. No dairy? Only vegetables, fruit and protein? What about grains, starch, sugar and alcohol? When I hear Paleo, I think difficult, annoying and taxing on the body. But it doesn't need to be that way. Here are 7 tips to get you on track with the Paleo Diet.

1. Keep a hunter-gatherer mentality.

The Paleo diet refers to the type of food people relied on 15,000 years ago. Fred Flintstone was onto something.

2. Fruits and vegetables galore.

Every fruit and vegetable is fair game. Liven then up with fresh herbs and spices such as oregano, cilantro, ginger, cinnamon, etc. Fruits and vegetables don't need to be bland and boring. Add something delicious to spice it up!

3. Protein in the form of poultry, seafood and meat.

Examples include fish, beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, pork, etc. Ideally, the meat you consume should be organic, free range and hormone free. Sometimes this is hard to afford on a college diet, but if you are going to commit 100% to this diet, following this rule is a must.

4. Nuts but NO LEGUMES (peanuts, beans, lentils).

Think almonds, cashews, walnuts. These will keep you fuller for a longer period of time.

5. Fats and oils in stricter forms.

You can still enjoy fats and oils but only in the form of coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, avocado and bacon. Yes, you can still indulge in bacon as long as it's hormone free, but stay away from vegetable oils.

6. Forget about dairy.

You heard me. Nothing with milk. Goodbye cheese and ice cream, it's been nice knowing you.

7. The good stuff.

No potatoes, added sugar, soy, tofu, grains and cereals. So that means ditching the pizza, tortillas, rice, oatmeal, pasta, and anything else that contains a grain.

So now you're asking, what now? Here are a few alternatives:

If you want pasta... Try zucchini ribbons.
If you want rice... Try cauliflower rice.
If you want regular potatoes... Try sweet potatoes.
If you are craving a large glass of milk... Try coconut milk.
Craving sugar... Try honey to sweeten up your food.
Need flour for a recipe... Try almond flour or coconut flour.

Have any of you tried the Paleo diet? What are some of your favorite dishes you've made while on it?

The post Paleo for Dummies: 7 Tips to Keep You On Track originally appeared on Spoon University. Please visit Spoon University to see more posts like this one.